severitas Latin · revision 30651

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=190–159 BC, Terence|origins=la sevērus}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sevēritās''' ''f'' (genitive sevēritātis); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|sevērus|-tās|t1=stern, serious]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) The origin of [[m|la|sevērus]] is disputed: Walde and Hofmann and Meiser explained it from ⟨*swe-⟩ “apart” and the root of [[m|la|vērus|t=true]], which de Vaan finds hard to accept for the meaning; he prefers Nussbaum's [[itc-pro|*seχwēro-|t=steadfast]], from a noun built on [[ine-pro|*seǵʰ-|t=to hold]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Terence,^(de Vaan 2008) who has ''trīstis sevēritās inest in vultū'', “there is a grim sternness in his face”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Sevēritās'' is strict, uncompromising conduct towards offenders, sternness, severity, in a good and a bad sense (Cicero, the ''Bellum Alexandrinum'', Livy).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is also strictness of morals, austerity, self-discipline, gravity and seriousness of manner (Cicero: he turned the hearers from seriousness to laughter), and of style, sobriety (the ''Rhetorica ad Herennium'').^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Döderlein says that ''sevēritās'' is earnestness seated in the mind, ''gravitās'' earnestness as it impresses others.^(Döderlein 1874) Church Latin glosses it “severity, sternness, gravity, seriousness”.^(Stelten 1995) English [[m|en|severity]] (late 15th century) comes from it through French.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence: ''trīstis sevēritās inest in vultū''.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of a stern judgement.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 15th century – English [[m|en|severity]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Sternness, strictness, [[m|en|severity]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Strictness of morals, [[m|en|austerity]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|gravity|alt=Gravity]], seriousness.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(of style)'' Sobriety, austerity.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sevērus]]

+ * [[gravitās]]

+ * [[en|severity]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}